VWQ7+X3 Petrodvortsovy District, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Peterhof is the only seaside residence of the Russian emperors, so it was quite natural that in 2004 the "Imperial Yachts" museum was opened on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. The exhibition showcases little-known pages of the imperial family's life. Here you can see Peter I's naval greatcoat and skipper's jacket, the uniform dress in the navy style of Empress Catherine II, photographs and models of imperial and grand-ducal yachts, which were true "floating" palaces, yacht tableware, paintings and graphics, and various decorative and applied art items dedicated to the glorious history of the Baltic and Neva fleets.
The history of Russian imperial yachts dates back to the Petrine era. From childhood, the future emperor dreamed of the sea, and later, during his travels in Europe, he mastered, among other skills, the profession of a shipbuilder. Russia’s access to the sea and its establishment on the Baltic coast led to the rapid development of Russian shipbuilding. Since 1702, court yachts were built at the Voronezh shipyard. After the first victories in the Northern War, the tsar began creating the Baltic fleet. In 1703–1704, several frigates and sail-oar shnyavas were built, among which the "Munker," made according to Peter’s own drawings (a model is displayed in the museum), is of special interest.
Yacht construction gained momentum during the reign of Catherine II, with a special flourishing occurring under Nicholas I. Among the 22 imperial, grand-ducal, and official yachts created in the 19th century at Russian and foreign shipyards, there were both small sailing vessels with modest decoration and comfortable ships with luxurious interiors. Each yacht had its own unique decor, special furniture, and distinct tableware sets.
In the second half of the 19th century, large comfortable yachts for long voyages began to be built, including those specially made for the heirs to the throne. Among them was the yacht "Shtandart," laid down in 1893 in Copenhagen and completed three years later. It was the largest ocean-going and most advanced yacht in terms of engineering and technical characteristics, belonging to Tsarevich Alexei, as evidenced by numerous photographs.
The post-revolutionary fate of the imperial yachts was sad: many were dismantled or turned into targets for testing anti-ship shells. The "Imperial Yachts" museum offers a unique opportunity to see them again.
Sources:
https://peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/peterhof/muzei_imperatorskiye_yahti
